Help!

It doesn’t take long in watching the daily or nightly news, reading the paper (if anyone does that anymore) or surfing the Internet until the overwhelming flood of bad news and terminal sin gets to you and you just have to cry out “Help!” For many people this sense of demise, disaster, or depressive state is compounded by personal problems that flood in causing us to cry out all the more “Help!” Maybe right now you’re crying out “Help!” If you’re at the end of yourself, if you’ve just about had it, had it with the state of our nation, had it with the state of our economy, had it with people around you and the myriad problems that make up your present personal plight, just had it with everything, then I have some help to offer you. I personally don’t have the help. But I can point you where to get help. God is exactly who you need when you cry “Help!”

The best thing for you to do in trouble is to cry out to God. He hears our cries of “Help!” And He is not silent; He speaks today. How does He speak? He speaks through an inner still small voice of the Spirit for those who know Him personally. If we hold on to sin in our life He waits silently until we confess it to Him and seek forgiveness through faith in His only Son Jesus (Psalm 66:18; Rom. 6:23). When we do that, God not only forgives us, but He regenerates us; He gives us spiritual eternal life (John 3:1-21; Rom. 8:9-11; 1 Cor. 2:9-14; Titus 3:5). When we turn from our sins to God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Lord gives us eternal life through the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit, “another Helper,” one just like Jesus who testifies of Jesus (John 14:16; 15:26). It is the Spirit who helps us when we are weak (Rom. 8:26). So if you want to hear God, or more accurately, be heard by God, turn from any sin in your life, surrender to Him, and put your faith in Jesus. This is the first indispensible step in getting help from God when you’re crying “Help!” Sin is repulsive to God (Hab. 1:13). Sin separates us from God (Is. 59:2). Sin has a murderous killing affect on the sinner (Rom. 6:23a). Therefore sin must be dealt with; it’s a big part of the reason we are crying “Help!” Deal with it.

God also speaks very tangibly to us through His word. When I’m in trouble, when I’m at the end of myself or simply overwhelmed by the circumstances of life, I go to God’s word. The Bible is the word of God. The Bible has been inspired or literally God breathed by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The Bible is the language of the Spirit and therefore is only understood by those who have the Spirit indwelling them to translate its meaning (1 Cor. 2:9-14).

The particular portion of the Bible where I have found the most help in times of need is the Psalms. Let me show you an example. Psalm 20 is a psalm where God tells us what He’ll do when we cry “Help!” to Him. Let’s look at this psalm and see what help God offers.

Psalm 20 is “To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.” The Psalms are the hymn book of Israel. This psalm is written to the Chief Musician because its lyrics were originally set to music or for the Chief Musician to set them to music. Music and worship are a great means to get us out of the darkness and into the light of God (e.g. Col. 3:15-17). It is also a “Psalm of David,” which means King David is the human author through whom God delivered these precious words.

The first verse says, “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; . . .” The word “May” expresses the possibility and hope that you would turn to the LORD for help. The word “LORD” identifies God as the great “I Am.” That’s how God refers to Himself because with this name He is telling us I Am and always have been and I am all that I ever need to be. There is no situation so dire or dark that God who will, “answer you in the day of trouble,” can’t reach down and help you through it or up and out of it.

The phrase “the name of the God of Jacob defend you,” is an interesting way to refer to God’s help. You see the name Jacob means heel catcher. Jacob was a conniver who for a great deal of his life depended on his own guile and deception to get his help. One day that all came crashing down on him and he had to cry out to God for help. The account is found in Genesis 32 and the answer to Jacob’s cry for help was that God transformed him and taught him a life lesson. Jacob needed to learn that he needed to rely on God not himself for help. Jacob was taught by God that he had to be governed by God. God gave him a life reminder of this with a new name Israel. Israel means governed by God. Maybe you can relate to that. Maybe you need a new name. Maybe you need to surrender and be governed by God. See what I mean about God speaking and getting help from Him?

Verses two and three say, “May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion; ³ May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah.” Next we are told of another place where we can find help, “the sanctuary.” The sanctuary today could be equated with the church. I’m not talking about a building as much as I’m talking about the Body of Christ that is composed of people who have been born again of the Spirit of God through faith in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 12:27). We’re not talking about a religious group but a group that has the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, dwelling in and ministering through them. God sends us help “from the sanctuary.” You may want to look for a place like this when you’re looking for help.

We can find help and strength “out of Zion” because this refers to Jerusalem, the City of God, the place where God dwells (Ps. 135:21). We need to seek strength and refuge in the presence of God. In God’s presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are eternal pleasures (Ps. 16:11).

Since God is everywhere all the time and knows everything, even our innermost thoughts, He will remember all that we’ve done for Him (cf. Ps. 139). God remembers all that we do for Him and it makes a difference (Heb. 6:10). It isn’t as though through good works we can move God’s hand. It’s that God the Father looks down on us in love and wants to help His struggling children.

The burnt sacrifice was a worshipful offering to express total devotion to God. When a child of God expresses their love and devotion to God, it moves the heart of God. But keep in mind, “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:10, 19). We’re products of His grace (1 Cor. 15:10). Every good thing done is the product of God’s handiwork (James 1:17). We can’t really take credit for anything (Is. 64:6). And we can’t manipulate God by our efforts. You aren’t going to make God love you more than He already does. God loves you as much as is possible, no matter what. God loves us even when we’re sinners (Rom. 5:8). Nothing can separate the child of God from the love of God (Rom. 8:38-39). That’s an incredible truth and we need to meditate on that. “Selah” means pause and meditate. That would be a very appropriate thing for us to do at this point.

Verse four says, “May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose.” See the progression? Turn away from your Jacob like self reliance. Come into the presence of God who loves you. Then it speaks of God granting your heart’s desire and fulfilling your purpose. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” That verse and verse four of Psalm 20 doesn’t mean God gives us carte blanche to request anything and He will give it to us. That may sound good but there are a lot of things we might ask for that wouldn’t be good for us. Like a child who watches there Daddy shaving and then asks him to allow them to shave with a razor, that may be cute, but the cuts that would result prevent the Daddy from complying with the request. No, the heart’s desires and purposes God does fulfill are those He puts in our hearts. He wants His best for us. If he says “No” to something we’ve requested it’s for our own good. The desires He puts in our hearts are the ones that are best for us and will help us to experience the abundant life promised by Jesus (John 10:10).

Verse five is a call to get back to basics, to the rudimentary and foundational aspects of who we are in Him. It says, “We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.” We need to remember the blessing of our salvation from sin and eternal life graciously given through faith in Christ. We need to take joy in that and set up banners that pronounce salvation to others. We might see this as a call to evangelism. Let people know about your joy of salvation. When it says, “May the LORD fulfill all your petitions” it’s connected to spreading the good news of salvation. To petition is to pray. Pray for a rekindling of the joy of your salvation. Pray for the lost. Pray to spread the good news of salvation to the lost world. It’s amazing how getting off of ourselves as our all consuming preoccupation and serving others will lift a person out of depression. That’s because we weren’t created to serve ourselves. We were created to serve the LORD and others (Mark 10:45; Eph. 2:10; Rev. 4:11).

Verse six offers us an assuring word. It states, “Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.” The LORD does save us and we can know that we are saved and going to heaven (e.g. 2 Tim. 1:12). The apostle John was inspired by God to write an entire epistle about how we can know we have eternal life by the Spirit who indwells the true believer (e.g. 1 John 3:19, 24; 5:13). The word “anointed” likely refers particularly to the King’s anointing. It could also refer to the priests who were anointed or ordained. The anointing was done ceremonially with oil. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (Zech. 4:1-10).

The anointing with the Spirit is fully realized in the New Testament (Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2). In the New Testament we are told that the Christian is sealed with the Spirit as a guarantee of our salvation (2 Cor. 1:22). The presence of the Holy Spirit who indwells the believer gives us assurance of our eternal salvation. God “will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand” by the Holy Spirit who empowers the believer (e.g. Acts 1:8). The assurance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit are vital sources of help in times of trouble.

Verses seven and eight state, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. ⁸ They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright.” Our help doesn’t come from worldly resources like chariots or horses. We may get temporary help from secular resources but such help is nothing like the help we receive from God. Relying on earthly resources can actually result in us being cheated from God’s best (cf. Col. 2:8). It would be much more helpful, much more beneficial and sustaining to sink our roots down into our relationship with the Lord and get established and built up in our faith (Col. 2:6-7).

Those who rely on alternatives to God’s help will run out of strength, bow down and fall. But those who trust in “the LORD our God” will rise and stand firm. Jesus spoke of such stability when He called His disciples to rely on Him and obey His word (Mat. 7:24-27). The apostle Paul exhorted us to not be tossed to and fro with false teachings delivered by charlatans. Instead we need to grow and mature in our faith. There are no shortcuts in this regard. We need to work at studying and applying God’s word to our lives (2 Tim. 2:15). He instructed us to rely on the balance of the loving action of the Spirit guided by the loving inspiration truth of God’s word (Eph. 4:11-16).

The final verse of this psalm concludes, “Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.” That’s a prayer. It’s as though the psalmist David is saying, “With all of this in mind, we come to You and ask ‘LORD save us!’” He ends with the words, “May the King answer us when we call.” Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16). He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). That is where you need to go for help. That is where your cry for “help!” will be answered. As a nation, as individual people, we need to turn to the LORD for our help. Crying for “Help!”? “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble.” God bless.

Press Through!

For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall. – Psalm 18:29

Faith is only as strong as the object in which it is placed. For instance, trusting in fools is like cutting the legs right out from under you (Prov. 26:6; 13:20). A fool is someone who fails to factor God into their life equation (Psalm 14:1). The psalmist King David said when he put his trust in God he could “run against a troop,” and “leap over a wall.” Actually, a literal rendering of that last phrase is that he could run through a wall. Run up against any walls lately?

Life is filled with barriers, obstacles, walls. These walls can prevent us from fulfilling God’s mission for us. They can keep us from the promises of God and His abundant life. They can even keep us from His presence when they become sin (Ps. 66:18; Is. 59:2; Hab. 1:13; Mat. 7:21-23). What do we do when we come up against a wall? We trust God and press through!

When I was a young man I played some football. There’s a lot of physical contact in football; blocking and tackling is what they call it. Football is like coming up against walls of human flesh, bone and muscle. An offensive lineman is taught to block through tacklers. Tacklers are taught to tackle through people. And sometimes a running back has no choice but to try and run through a would-be tackler. Tackling, blocking, or running through someone involves setting your target for contact through, or behind the object of your aggression. This is taught in most contact sports, e.g. boxing, martial arts, lacrosse, basketball, even baseball when home plate is blocked by the catcher. All of this makes for some spectacular crashes and the winner is usually determined by the fastest, strongest or heaviest of the two people making contact. There is an exception though. Sometimes someone with less speed, less muscle, and lighter weight beats out a better opponent because of their heart. Heart and determination can make up for a lot of deficiencies. In sports there are people with reckless abandon who throw caution to the wind and sacrifice their bodies for the good of the team. These are the players who are fun to watch. These are the players it’s easy to root for. That’s what makes contact sports so exciting. It’s no fun watching millionaire athletes give half-hearted efforts that waste their talents and the time and money of the fans. There’s a lesson to learn and apply here.

There’s a certain amount of faith incorporated in athletics. A successful team has players that believe in themselves and believe in the team. They also have to believe in their coaches. Faith in yourself and other people can take you only so far in life. There comes a time when the wall is too high even when you’re giving it all you’ve got. All athletes find this out sooner or later. And this is a life lesson learned by everyone sooner or later in our earthly existence. There are illnesses with no known cures, relational problems that seem irreparable, psychological and emotional scars that just don’t seem to want to go away. There are dead end circumstances in life. There are bankrupting situations. Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived (1 Kings 4:31) looked at life “under the sun” apart from God and said, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 14; 2:17). “Vanity” means literally vapor. That done apart from God comes to nothing. Living life apart from God is like trying to blow down a concrete wall with a puff of smoke. All you’ll get doing that is teary eyed and likely lung cancer.

That sounds pretty futile. Life without God is frustrating. But there is an alternative. There is a way to run over or through the walls of life. Trust in God. That’s what King David learned. That’s the message of God in His word. That’s His promise to all who would trust in Him. David was inspired to say, “For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him . . . . It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect” (Psalm 18:29, 30, and 32). David knew a powerful resource outside of himself. That Source was and is God.

How does God give us victories over the walls in life? How do we run over them or through them? In the New Testament the apostle Paul wrote, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14). Notice a few things from Paul’s God inspired words.

First, Paul was humble. He said, “Not that I have already attained or am already perfected . . . . Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended . . .” Paul new he hadn’t arrived. He knew there was still work to be done in and through him by God. He didn’t have an exalted view of himself. He had no delusions of grandeur. Paul was aware of and admitted to his own personal limitations and weakness. Paul wasn’t dependent on himself. He was very honestly aware of his humble state. He knew the first step in scaling or busting through a wall is humility not pride (cf. 1 cor. 15:10; 1 Pet. 5:5-6).

Second, Paul had a “press on” attitude of faith. Despite Paul’s limitations, he pressed on. That’s because he wasn’t dependent on or limited by his own relatively weak strength or resources. Just prior to these verses Paul said he was willing to give up everything in life for the sake of knowing Jesus (Phil. 3:7-11). Paul mentioned the resurrection power of Christ as well as the fellowship of suffering with Jesus. That’s a powerful faith one two punch to hit the walls with. The point is Paul didn’t go up against the walls of life in his strength or presumed personal ability, he pressed on in the power of Christ. His press on attitude of faith was, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13).

Third, Paul had a simple singular strategy. Paul said, “but one thing I do.” He had a singular focus. The game plans that are the most successful are usually the ones that are the simplest and easiest to understand and implement by the players. If you go into a game and your coach tells you, “Okay men, to win, we just have to do one thing,” those players are going to get excited because they can focus all of their energies on a simple single task. When you concentrate your efforts on a single objective you bring the most power to bear. When you have to divide your efforts and resources they become diluted, less effective. Complexity often leads to confusion and indecision. Our prime singular focus is to “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” What does that mean? It doesn’t mean we gain heaven by our efforts or works. Eternal life and heavenly citizenship comes as a gift of God’s grace through faith in Jesus as Savior (Eph. 2:8-9). It does mean that like an athlete we need to train and prepare for the race or the game. We need to be disciplined and assess life in a way that avoids that which would hinder us. We need to question those things that might keep us from gaining the prize at the end of the race. Ask does this bring me closer to the finish line or slow me down? Does this bring me closer to Jesus or cause me to drift further away from Him?

The prize offered are the words of Jesus, “Well cone good and faithful servant . . . enter in the joy of your Lord” (Mat. 25:23). Those are the words I want to hear and you should want to hear when we cross the finish line of life. We don’t want to just finish the race, we want to finish well. To hear those words of Jesus we’ll need to be vigilant, disciplined, and ordered by the word of God. We’ll have to trim the fat from our diets and regularly exercise and workout. Get into the word, digest it, and let it build spiritual muscle in you (cf. Psalm 119; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Heb. 4:12).

There is a balance to be maintained here. In a sense it is not all us or all God in this life as a Christian. We are completely dependent upon the grace of God, but we still labor (1 Cor. 15:10). We work out our salvation and God works in us as we work (Phil. 2:12-13). There is a balance between our part and God’s part. God has designed life this way. We do our best and trust the Lord for the rest. We scale walls in the power of the Lord. We hit the walls in the power of the Lord and let the bricks fall where they may.

Lastly, Paul was focused and appropriately forgetful. Paul says, “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching to those things which are ahead.” We shouldn’t dwell on past victories or defeats. Onward and upward is our focus. We press on from one victory to the next. We press on from one defeat to the next. But we press on. We press through. A baseball season is long and filled with both winning and losing streaks. Every team has them. The same is true in life. We will experience defeats. We will experience victories. We can’t allow our defeats to be compounded by dwelling on them to the point of depression. We learn from them. We are disciplined and discipled by defeats, but then we move on. The same is true of victories. We can’t dwell on victories and neglect the ongoing war and future battles. Some people life a defeated life because of a single defeat in life. Some people gain a victory and revolve their life around that one victory. The result is stagnation and stuffiness spiritually. Look at Acts, God’s people pressed on from event to event as long as they still had breath. As long as we breathe in the empowering breath of the Holy Spirit we need to press on in the purposes of God. We need to press on and have a present or current walk with the Lord.

“For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall.” God will lead you over some walls and through others. A current vital living Spirit guided saving relationship with God in Christ is essential to discerning the strategy of God for the walls you face. There are no shortcuts in this regard. But God will get you over or through whatever wall you are facing. Up against a wall? Press through!

An Invitation

Ever feel alone, overwhelmed by life? Ever feel too young or too old to be included? Ever feel left out? Ever feel high and dry or low and soaked? Broken? Betrayed? Bankrupt? Ever feel you just don’t measure up? Ever feel any of that? I have an invitation to pass on to you. If you respond to the invitation it will change your life. This invitation is from Someone who can help you cope with life. This is an invitation from Someone who wants to be your Friend. It’s an important invitation. The way you respond to this invitation will have lasting effects. If this sounds interesting to you I invite you to read on.

The Bible is the supreme source of comfort and consolation from God who is called “the God of all comfort” (Rom. 15:4; 2 Cor. 1:3-7). To a great extent the Bible is a love letter from God to console us in life. One of the most encouraging portions of God’s word is the Letter to the Philippians. In the letter to the Philippians the apostle Paul is inspired to use the phrase, “. . . if there is any consolation in Christ . . .” (2:1b). When Paul says this he isn’t doubting that there is consolation, he is speaking rhetorically. He is saying if there is any consolation, and I believe there is . . . . An examination and study of this short phrase presents us with an inviting door of opportunity to experience consolation in our time of need.

“Consolation,” what is that? The word “consolation” (Greek - παράκλησις - paraklēsis) means encouragement, comfort, or exhortation. The idea is that Jesus comes along side of us to encourage, exhort and comfort us. This is accomplished by the work of the Holy Spirit who Jesus referred to as The Helper, or Comforter (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). This is a present reality for all who have been born again of the Spirit (John 3).

Paraklesis uses the prefix para which means to come alongside. The root of the word is kaleo (Greek - καλέω - kaleō) which means to call, name, summon, call by name, or invite. The sense of “consolation in Christ” is that Jesus comes alongside us and calls us by name. Jesus comes along side of us and presents us with an invitation. Let’s ask some questions about this invitation of Jesus and let’s answer them from God’s love letter the Bible.

Who does Jesus invite?

He invites all who are weary and have heavy burdens in life.

· Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

He invites children (Mat. 19:14).

· Matthew 19:14 - But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

He invites everyone.

· Revelation 22:17 - And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

What does He invites us to?

He invites us to put Him first.

· Luke 14:26 - “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

He invites us to obey and apply His word to our lives.

· Luke 6:46-49 - ⁴⁶ “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? ⁴⁷ Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. ⁴⁹ But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

He invites us to be His friends.

· John 15:15 - No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Why should we respond to Christ’s invitation?

Because the scriptures are all about Him and in Him is eternal life.

· John 5:39-40 - You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

Because only He can fill our hunger and quench our thirst.

· John 6:35- And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

Because not one who responds to Christ’s invitation will be cast out by Him.

· John 6:37 - All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

Because He will give us the Holy Spirit who is able to empower us in life.

· John 7:37-39 - ³⁷ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

How do we respond to this invitation; how do we come to Jesus?

By grace; not one who responds to Christ’s invitation can do so unless the Father draws him.

· John 6:44-45 - No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

We come to Jesus through faith.

· John 5:24 - “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

· John 6:47 - Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.

· John 11:25-26 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

· John 12:46 - I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

· John 14:1 - “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

What will happen if we believe in Jesus?

We will receive eternal satisfying life and be empowered to do great works for God!

· John 14:12 - “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

What are the consequences if we don’t come to Jesus and believe in Him?

If we believe in Jesus we will not be condemned, but if we don’t believe in Jesus we are condemned.

· John 3:18-21 - “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Who comes to Jesus?

His sheep.

· John 10:27-28 - My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

Jesus is calling you. There’s His invitation. You’ve just received it. What will you answer? What will you do with the invitation of Jesus? If you’re satisfied feeling alone and overwhelmed by life, if you like feeling left out, high and dry, low and soaked, if you’re satisfied with your brokenness, betrayal and bankruptcy, with always coming up short, do nothing. But if you want all of that to change, if you want some help to cope and get through life, if you want life like you’ve never experienced before, eternal life, I have an invitation to pass on to you. Jesus is here. He’s at your door. He’s knocking. He is whispering to you, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20). Now it’s your turn. Will you invite Him in?

Why Does God Allow Accidents and Suffering? Part 4

Accidents and suffering are a part of life. That is what we have seen from our study of scripture. How can we get through such difficulties? What is the most important thing to remember during times of suffering? That is what we will consider in this final part of our study.

What is the most important thing to do in response to suffering?

• 1 Peter 4:7-11 – “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

The most important thing to do in response to suffering is “have a fervent love for one another.” The “love” spoken of here is a translation of the Greek term AGAPE and occurs 116 times in the New Testament. Once this term is translated, “feast of charity.”AGAPE love is literally a feast of love, loving affection, loving good will, and loving benevolence. When we are confronted with the pain and suffering of this world we need to throw our arms around the Lord and have a feast of loving deep fellowship with Him.

The adjective used to further describe this love is the word “fervent” means a love that doesn’t give up, a love that stretches to reach out to others, a love that is alive with hope!

The fervent love spoken of by Peter as being the top priority in times of suffering, according to Peter, should result in prayer for others, hospitality toward others, serving others in God’s grace, being guided by God’s word and all of this aimed at bringing glory to God. What is the most important thing to do in the midst of suffering? The most important thing is to love with a love that is alive with the living hope of Christ. Love with a love that never gives up. Both the one suffering and the one ministering to the sufferer is to love. No matter what, love in God’s living hope. Love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:8). Love! The hope of God doesn’t disappoint because He pours out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who He has given to us (Romans 5:5). Love!

There is right and wrong suffering. Peter wrote the following inspired words about right and wrong suffering:

• 1 Peter 4:12-19 – “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, 1 Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

Peter tells us that suffering and trials should not be thought of as “strange” or uncommon, they will inevitably come (4:12). As mentioned earlier, Paul said we could count on being persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12). Peter says that the sufferer should actually rejoice in the fact that they are learning about Jesus and getting closer to Him in their suffering (4:13). Peter says that if you are reproached because of your witness for Christ, it is evidence that "the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you” (4:14). You see if the Spirit is not resting on you and you’re no different than anyone else, you probably won’t experience being persecuted or suffering for Christ’s sake and you definitely will miss out on any blessing God intends to bring in and through the suffering experience. While it is good to suffer for Christ, it is bad and useless to suffer for sins you’ve committed like murder, stealing, and doing evil (4:15). The last verses of this section are an exhortation by Peter to suffer rightly (4:16-18). When we suffer therefore, let it be according to God’s will, and let good come from it (4:19).

We don’t have all the answers. There’s a poem by an unknown author I came across that helps us to understand the benefit of not having all the answers. Here it is:

If you never . . .

If you never felt pain,
Then how would you know that I'm a Healer?

If you never went through difficulties,
How would you know that I'm a Deliverer?
If you never had a trial,
How would you call yourself an overcomer?

If you never felt sadness,
How would you know that I'm a Comforter?
If you never made a mistake,
How would you know that I'm forgiving?

If you knew all,
How would you know that I will answer your questions?
If you never were in trouble,
How would you know that I will come to your rescue?

If you never were broken,
Then how would you know that I can make you whole?
If you never had a problem,
How would you know that I can solve them?

If you never had any suffering,
Then how would you know what Jesus went through?
If you never went through fire,
Then how would you become pure?

If I gave you all things,
How would you appreciate them?
If I never corrected you,
How would you know that I love you?

If you had all power,
Then how would you learn to depend on me?
If your life was perfect,
Then what would you need Me for?

We don’t have all the answers. God has planned it that way. He has given us enough so that we have to depend upon Him (e.g. Deuteronomy 29:29). Trust Him for He is worthy of your trust. Depend and lean on Him for there is no One stronger. Pour out your heart to Him because there is no one so patient and compassionate to listen to you. He is the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.

Why does God allow accidents and suffering? God allows accidents and suffering because He loves us and wants as many people to be saved eternally from their sin as possible. This is a hard state of affairs. It is the consequence of sin. But it is a necessary arrangement until God says enough. While God carries through His patient plan in loving longsuffering, all is not lost. God can bring good even from suffering. When we understand that suffering can be used by God and that it isn’t pointless, it gives us a living hope to go through it. My prayer is that we trust God and rely on His living hope as we inevitably go through trials in our lives. I pray we also share the living hope we have with those suffering who have yet to receive God’s living hope. And I pray we offer ourselves to God in a way that if He chooses to allow suffering in our lives, the living hope, living in us, will bring glory to His name.

In conclusion, don’t forget, if you are suffering as the result of objective or planetary effects of sin or because of the personal effects of sin, I encourage you to look to Jesus. Remember what God tells us in Psalms. In psalms it states, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:1-2). Turn to the Lord in whatever state you are. He is your Source of help.

Why Does God Allow Accidents and Suffering? Part 3

Can any good come from accidents and suffering? Aren’t such things pointless and reason to despair? There is understanding to be had through God’s word when it comes to responding to such questions. This is what we will consider in part three of our study on accidents and suffering. I invite you to read on.

What Good can come From Suffering? We quoted Peter earlier as being inspired to write, “But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed” (1 Peter 3:13-17). In what sense does suffering bring a blessing? Suffering brings a blessing as it matures us spiritually. That there is blessing in suffering probably seems to be a bit of a contradiction to the view of most people. Few see any benefit from suffering. But there is a blessing there; and when we understand that God can bring a blessing from suffering, it gives us hope when we are in the midst of suffering. Let’s see. What blessings flow from suffering?

First, the extremities of man are the opportunities of God. You might say or think, "I'm suffering and I can't take it anymore. I'm at the end of myself." In a way, that's right where God wants you to be. Someone has said, "Man's extremities are God's opportunities." God has not left us hopelessly alone, but He allows us to get to the end of ourselves. He picks us up where we leave off. And the sooner we leave off, the sooner He'll pick up. To learn this is to be blessed because there is no better place to be than in the arms of God. God has given us a promise to bring "good" from all things as it states in the book of Romans:

• Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

What further possible benefits does suffering bring?

Second, suffering can help us have a deeper understanding of Jesus. What is the greatest thing that God can give when suffering brings a person to their extremity of being? The greatest blessing of suffering is to know Jesus better, more fully, more deeply. The apostle Paul spoke of knowing “the fellowship of His suffering” (Philippians 3:10). To experience suffering enables us to empathize with our LORD. When we experience suffering, we can learn His perspective of sin and why He was willing to die to deal with it. The Bible tells us this when it says:

• 1 Peter 2:21-25 – “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
• 1 Peter 3:18 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,”

Jesus is our example in suffering. No one ever suffered as much as Jesus did (see Isaiah 52:14). We will probably spend eternity trying to comprehend the depth of Christ’s suffering and He did it all for us (3:18). Jesus was willing to suffer for the sake of winning souls to eternal life. We should follow in His steps in our times of suffering. When we suffer or see evil, we should prayerfully ask, “Lord, how can you bring good out of this? What is Your purpose in this? How can you use me in the midst of evil and suffering to bring the lost to salvation through faith in Jesus?” There are great opportunities of God in the extremities of suffering.

Third, suffering can provide an opportunity to witness about God's living hope. The Scriptures state:

• 1 Peter 3:15-17 – “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

The heart of the world is oftentimes opened when it sees suffering and this creates great opportunity to witness to the sustaining and sufficient grace of God in the believer’s life. Suffering gives an opportunity to share the “reason for the hope that is in you.” Jesus is our hope (Titus 2:13; Hebrews 6:19).

Fourth, suffering can actually increase and purify our faith so we learn to trust God more. All that we learn about God and ourselves through suffering leads to a faith that is pure and mature. Indeed, Peter wrote that the one who suffers, has ceased from sin,” and that is true if a person is truly suffering for Christ’s sake and not for some foolish sinful act. But even when suffering is the consequence of a sinful act, if a person repents and turns to the LORD, God can use it to glorify Himself and bring good from it. Peter wrote:

• 1 Peter 1:6-7 – “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”

• 1 Peter 4:19 – “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” (See also James 1:2-8)

Suffering burns away our worldly crutches so that we learn to lean on God alone through faith in Christ.

Fifth, suffering helps us understand ourselves. One of the most important spiritual lessons in our walk with the Lord is that to find ourselves, our purpose and fulfillment in life, we have to first be willing to lose ourselves. Jesus put it this way:

• Matthew 16:24-25 – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.25 “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

Paul wrote:

• Galatians 2:20 - “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

When we suffer we learn a lot about ourselves; our limitations, our priorities, what we really value in life, who and what we are really live for. Suffering seen in this light brings great profits.

Sixth, suffering helps us get our priorities straight. Peter wrote this:

• 1 Peter 4:1-5 – “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.”

Peter says something very striking here when he says, “he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” In what sense does the suffer cease from sin? The context here tells us that the sufferer ceases from sin because suffering brings reality to bear. Suffering puts life in perspective, eternal perspective.

Peter says the one who suffers is moved to, “no longer . . . live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.” Those who look on from outside the windows of suffering don’t understand and “think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.” They think the best way to deal with pain and suffering is to drown it in drink and drugs. But they will learn what the sufferer learns that, “They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” That sobering truth puts life in proper holy perspective.

Seventh, suffering helps us realize the sufficiency of God's grace. Paul knew about suffering and he was inspired by God to write the following words.

• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Grace for suffering only comes at the point of suffering. Therefore, it is only through the actual suffering that one can know for sure that God’s grace really is sufficient. The person who suffers has been given a great insight into not only themselves, but also the provision of God, (that is if they choose to accept it). Suffering opens the door of opportunity and revelation that God is real and that His grace is sufficient. And if we come to see that God’s grace is sufficient in suffering, then that carries over into all other aspects of life.

Eight, suffering helps us to look forward to the coming of Christ. The Bible states:

• Romans 8:18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Suffering makes our future glory with the Lord that much sweeter and it causes us to look onward and upward rather than get preoccupied with the things of this world. Suffering causes us to take up our moorings and causes us to be willing to set sail for our eternal home in heaven with Jesus.

Remember, if you are suffering as the result of objective or planetary effects of sin or because of the personal effects of sin, I encourage you to look to Jesus. Remember what God tells us in Psalms. In psalms it states, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:1-2). Turn to the Lord in whatever state you are. He is your Source of help.